Catching up the rest of the Family trip to Arizona

Okay, I am going to knock this out in one post because I realized that with all I have going on in life (a strong-willed 2 1/2 year old son, a 1 year old daughter, and a 16 year old daughter going to South Africa for a mission trip this summer...it would be a miracle if I finished blogging this trip by the end of the year. So, now that I have a few minutes, I am going to tell the rest of the trip right now.

Sunday, April 4th was Easter, so we took Sal, Jo and the boys to church with us and then we went to the Arizona Grand Resort.
We had plans to stay there overnight and boy, was I in for a surprise. I really should have known that it was probably not the best idea considering the ages of my kids. Trying to wrestle with their schedules and demands while trying to relax and enjoy myself and relax was really just a contradiction! Crazy times...once we got settled in the room for the night, we got everybody ready for bed. There were two queen beds and a pull out couch, where Hailey and her friend Taylor slept. Luca must have been teething because he woke up about every hour screaming and consequently, Nora woke as well. The original plan was to wake up and go to breakfast with the family, hang out by the pool and then take the kids home for their naps while everybody else went to hike Camelback. Needless to say, all I could think about was getting home, so when I woke up at 6:30 or so, I frantically began to pack bags and get everybody loaded up in the car because all I could think about was getting home and that is exactly what I did. The resort was amazing as long as you weren't there with 2 babies and no hired help! So, everybody else hiked the mountain and had a great time. When they got back, we all showered and got ready for our adult night out. Hailey babysat the kids and we were able to go out for dinner, and let me tell you, did I ever need the kid break! I love my babies, but I needed a few hours to rejuvenate. Culinary Dropout was our choice for dinner and it was delicious.

The next morning, Tuesday, we got up and made our way out to the Wildlife Zoo and Aquarium and picked up Lebanese food for dinner from 16th Street Bakery. Sal originally suggested that I make Lebanese food for dinner and all I could do was laugh! I said that I would buy dinner, but if they wanted me sane, making it was out of the question! The food was delicious, but I am not sure the boys were very excited about the cuisine. They were pretty good sports about it though. Mellow night at home...very nice.

Wednesday was the day of departure, so we drove out to Kierland, shopped around a little, ate lunch, and drove around Arcadia. Good byes are always sad to me. Sal, Jo and the boys had to go home and we were really going to miss having all of that action in the house. I do love a full house!

Hailey's Adventure Begins

So, Hailey left for her Global Expeditions Mission Trip today. She is in Dallas for training at the Teen Mania Headquarters, then off to South Africa on Thursday. We got all of the packing done by Thursday, so rather than spending her last night here scrambling to gather the last few things, we were able to just spend time as a family. It was so nice. It consisted of ordering pizza from Basha's grocery store and just spending time in the backyard with the entire family and Hailey's good friend Paige. It was so nice.

We woke up early this morning to get to the airport and my friend Hannah, who has 2 little ones of her own, came by to stay with my kids so that I wouldn't have to wake them and drag them with us to the airport. Good for them and very good for us! This isn't the first time Hannah has made my life easier!
I can't tell you about all of the financial miracles we have experienced in the past month and a half. Not only did she make the half-way mark deadline, which was just under $2000, in only 10 days, but she raised the rest of it way before the deadline! Then, as with everything, there are always unaccounted for costs that you don't factor in when planning a trip like this...supplies (you should have seen the list from GE!), immunizations, spending money, etc. I found myself a bit stressed out about the spending money part of the whole thing and the surprise we got from American Airlines regarding the fact that checked baggage is no longer included in the fare. Not even one bag! Then I realized that if God had brought us this far, why would He stop now? Well, He didn't! I wasn't really surprised. He provided financial gifts through so many people who were willing to forgo the tax deduction and give the money directly to Hailey for checking baggage, spending and supplies. Thanks to all of you who contributed to make this trip happen for Hailey.
So, let me just briefly talk about the packing list from GE. It was so long! There were specific weight instructions too and I thought there was no way it was going to happen. We put our heads together and figured things out. She took a Dallas bag, that will stay in one of the team leaders dorm rooms while they are in S. Africa and then another bag that will go with her to S. Africa. Her American Airline flight allows 50 lbs per bag and the international flight, Air France, allows 70 lbs. This will allow her to make a transfer of a few necessary items along with the required 2 tubs of peanut butter and 2 squeeze bottles of jelly! The peanut butter and jelly alone weighed 10 pounds! One carry on and her personal item (her backpack) and she was set!
I am so excited for her to be a part of something so incredible...I believe that God is going to grow her through this experience and that she will touch the lives of many, making lifelong friends and memories in the process.

Surprisingly enough, I don't really feel anxious or nervous...I will miss her, of course, but all in all, I feel peace about what she is about to embark on.